GOPIO condemns Rutgers Univ for allowing separatist Kashmiri flag display on campus

Kashmir is very much part of India…there is no separate flag for Kashmir, the group wrote in a letter.

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was set up in 1989. / GOPIO

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has taken a strong objection to Rutgers University in New Jersey for allowing the display of a separatist Kashmiri flag on its campus. Dr Thomas Abraham, GOPIO chairman, has written a letter to Jonathan Holloway, the university president, expressing his disapproval of the protesting students’ demand to display flags of displaced people on the campus.

“We are very surprised to read that you are considering the demand of protesting students to display the flags of occupied people – including but not limited to Palestinians, Kurds, and Kashmiris – in all areas displaying international flags across the Rutgers campuses,” the GOPIO letter read.

“This is a dangerous territory for Rutgers to get involved. By even considering this demand, you are questioning the integrity of India. Kashmir is very much part of India. There is no separate flag for Kashmir. Kashmir residents are not displaced people. In fact, the displaced people are the Hindu minorities who had to leave Kashmir because of violence against them. If Rutgers displays such a flag of Kashmir, that will be the beginning of more sit ins by students who are opposed to such flags,” it added.

GOPIO further urged Rutgers to not get involved into the “internal conflicts of countries around the world”.

GOPIO is a non-profit, community service and advocacy group with chapters in 35 countries. GOPIO has seven active chapters in the New York area and three chapters in New Jersey. GOPIO was started in 1989 at the First Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York. From the beginning, one of its major activities has been advocacy in civil and human rights violations of people of Indian-origin around the world.